Computer Help Needed - VERY Slow Internet Connection

[Amy]

We have Verizon DSL. DH and I have a desktop computer that is connected via wire to the DSL modem & Linksys wireless router. DH's work provided the router with their own settings that we can't change (so no "hitting the button" on the router) or else DH can't connect to his work. No problems accessing the internet from our desktop computer; web pages come up fast. DH has a laptop from work with a wireless connection - no problems getting on the internet at home using his laptop.

Our boys have an eMachines desktop that we bought in May/June. They had occasional problems, but this past week, it takes about 10-20 minutes for a web page to load, if it even loads at all. Their computer has a wireless network card; when we check the status, it says it's connected to both our home network and to the internet and the connection strength is excellent. (They CAN get e-mails, although that took longer than usual, but not as long as trying to load a web page.)

I can't figure out what's wrong! We have McAfee (on their computer AND on our desktop) - I ran virus scan Sunday night and again tonight and it found nothing. It's using virus definitions from Nov. 10; I tried to see if there were any updates available on the McAfee site, but it never connected.

Yesterday, I did disk cleanup, deleted temporary internet files and defragged the hard drive. Didn't help. Tonight DH and I checked under Tools/Internet Options to be sure that all the stuff checked on our computer was checked on the kids' computer. That didn't help either.

Anything else we can try?? I was thinking maybe the wireless network card is going bad? DH said if that's the case, then their computer wouldn't get anything, not even e-mail.

I really don't want to call the Geek Squad, but we may have to......

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Frantasmic]

Check your computer usage when this is happening and see how many programs are running. cntrl alt del and when the Windows Task Manager comes up, look at the performance tab. If it is high, you have some unusual activity.

It is possible someone found your router key and you are providing free internet for a lot of people, or if you have a spike in your performance, google backdoor and see what it says about that virus/trojan. It can cause a slow connection as well.

 

[crazelion]

I have checked the for spyware and adware, trojan horse. If not use Ad-ware downloaded from www.lavasoft.com . Spybot Search and Destory.

 

[Amy]

Check your computer usage when this is happening and see how many programs are running. cntrl alt del and when the Windows Task Manager comes up, look at the performance tab. If it is high, you have some unusual activity.

Just checked - performance is normal, nice and low.

It is possible someone found your router key and you are providing free internet for a lot of people, or if you have a spike in your performance, google backdoor and see what it says about that virus/trojan. It can cause a slow connection as well.

With the settings from DH's work, this is supposed to be a secure connection. Besides, if somebody was using our DSL connection, wouldn't our other computers (desktop and DH's laptop) be running slow as well? They're running normally. And what do you mean by "google backdoor and see what it says about virus/trojan"? What am I looking for?

I have checked the for spyware and adware, trojan horse. If not use Ad-ware downloaded from www.lavasoft.com . Spybot Search and Destory.

I ran Ad-Aware Monday night and it found nothing either, just the usual cookies.

This is so frustrating!! Any other ideas?

 

[crazelion]

go to downlaod.com program trial version of Trojan Hunter

 

[Amy]

Bumping for the morning crowd.......any ideas?

 

[Aidensmom]

Try having them refresh their IP address. I'm not at home so don't have my laptop available at the moment to give the specifics, but if you double click on the little icon in the tray on their toolbar at the bottom of the screen that represents their wireless connection, somewhere on that screen you should find an option to do so.

 

[themarquis]

just a thought -- when you check connection speed, you should get info on number of packets sent and received. (on the bottom of the wireless connection status window). I'm curious as to whether you are sending/receiving packets (data) at a normal speed on that computer. Get one of your other computers, reboot it (or you can disconnect/then reconnect it), and then connect it to the wireless. Watch the packets sent/received for about five minutes or so, and make a mental note of the number. Now do the same with the emachine (reboot or disconnect/reconnect first). Is the emachine getting packets at a very slow rate, or is it the same as the other computer? Please let me know and I can help you further.

A second thing to try, if possible, is to move the emachines computer (kind of a hassle, I know) and connect it to the *wired* connection w/ an ethernet cable. See if it behaves normally then, and you'll know its your wireless card/connection that is causing problems. If this is the case, you could also think about (if possible) making the emachines your internet "hub" (connected to wireless router and DSL connection) and have all other computers in the house access the router.

 

[Amy]

Aha! I did control-alt-del and chose the Networking Tab. On my computer, the Link speed is 100 Mbps; on the kids' computer, it's only 54 Mbps. Is this the problem? If so, what's causing it and how do we fix it?

On the Linksys adapter status page, there are more readings; I don't understand them, but here they are:

Transmit rate 54 mbps
receive rate 24 mbps (I guess this is why it's so slow, huh!)
Packets recd 79 (this keeps changing
Packets transmitted 51 (also changing)
noise level -80 dbm
signal strength -54 dbm

Do these numbers mean anything to you?

 

[Amy]

Dang! I called DH at work to tell him how much diff. the transmit rate is between our computer and the kids' computer, and he totally burst my bubble. He said that of course our computer will have a faster link speed (100 mbps) because it's wired right to the router/modem; the kids' computer will be a little slower since it's a wireless connection. But should it be THAT much slower????

I have to go to the mall this afternoon, so I'm going to ask at Best Buy and see what they tell me. This is just so frustrating!!!

 

[dmslush]

Try going to the control panel, click network connections, then right click the local area connection and then click repair. That usually does the trick here.

However, not too long ago, we ended up having to buy a new router because all of the other computers in the house couldn't get strong enough signal. It was like our router was just worn out or something.

 

[Aidensmom]

Try going to the control panel, click network connections, then right click the local area connection and then click repair. That usually does the trick here.

That is what I was trying to describe, I just couldn't remember without looking what everything was called.

My laptop using a wireless connection and Verizon DSL is always 54 too, that is normal.

 

[Amy]

Try going to the control panel, click network connections, then right click the local area connection and then click repair. That usually does the trick here.

Just tried it, and that didn't work either. And I really don't think it's the router since DH (on his laptop) and I (on the desktop) don't have any problems.

My laptop using a wireless connection and Verizon DSL is always 54 too, that is normal.

Dang! So much for that idea.

Well, I'm off to Best Buy to see what they say. They'll probably just suggest having the Geek Squad come out. $$$$$ I'd like to try everything possible before giving up and shelling out the bucks right before Christmas.

Or maybe I can tell our boys that paying for the Geek Squad to fix their computer is their Christmas present. That'll go over big!

 

[Lisa L from MI]

My laptop is always at 54 as well...

 

[themarquis]

Aha! I did control-alt-del and chose the Networking Tab. On my computer, the Link speed is 100 Mbps; on the kids' computer, it's only 54 Mbps. Is this the problem? If so, what's causing it and how do we fix it?

On the Linksys adapter status page, there are more readings; I don't understand them, but here they are:

Transmit rate 54 mbps
receive rate 24 mbps (I guess this is why it's so slow, huh!)
Packets recd 79 (this keeps changing
Packets transmitted 51 (also changing)
noise level -80 dbm
signal strength -54 dbm

Do these numbers mean anything to you?

54 is normal. However, I'm not so sure about the packets recd/transmitted. Just to clarify, are these numbers constantly going up? If so, what are your numbers after five minutes of being connected (disconnect and then reconnect again and keep an eye on the watch so I can see what happens when you start from zero packets recd/transmitted.). I'm trying to figure out whether you're receiving packets of data more slowly than you should be.

 

[Amy]

I'M GOING TO SCREAM!!!!!!!! After 5 days of horribly slow internet, I tried all that stuff listed above, went to Best Buy today and got another wireless card for inside the kids' pc. Came home, turned on their computer, went on Internet Explorer and it took forever to get the home page to come up.

So I turn on my computer, read what themarquis said about packets recd/transmitted. So I went in the kids' room, closed IE, opened it again, and WHAM! Home page came right up. I tried a couple of other web pages, just typing in the addresses (cnn.com, wdwinfo.com) and they came up right away, too. WHAT IS GOING ON?????

Anyway, now that it's working just fine, after 5-6 min., packets rec'd is 1726 and packets transmitted is 1615. Before when it wasn't working, I don't think either recd or transmitted got above 100.

I don't know what to do now - should we replace the wireless card anyway? I haven't even opened the package (was waiting for DH to do it tonight - I'm too chicken to open up a pc case), so I can return it.

I have 2 teenage boys driving me crazy; I don't need to deal with their computer, too!!!!!!

 

[themarquis]

Hi Amy,
How nice that its working again (maybe temporarily!)

Here is what I am thinking: yes, you were receiving data far too slowly before (low number of packets received -- # should always increase and after a while of being connected be several thousand or more). That would make things load very very slowly of course. Your connection was fine ... but for some reason your computer wasn't receiving enough info (or it was receiving it but wasn't processing it correctly).

Now ... given that it is now working fine there is one of two things going on: 1) your wireless card is "sorta" broken and for some reason is working ok now but probably not for long or 2) you have yourself a software, rather than a hardware problem.

Number 2 is probably easy to fix, so here is what I recommend: download yourself mozilla firefox (an alternate web browser that works pretty much like IE explorer but is much less buggy) and start using that. Use this link. Your kids should adapt to using it just fine (its very easy to use, don't worry). Use that for a week or two and if all is going well, return the wireless card (just hang onto the receipt). I have fixed many many mysterious connection problems with firefox...

If the computer goes back to being "bad", I think you should be able to try installing the wireless card and just take it back to the store if it doesn't work (depends on how it is packaged). Install it, see what happens ... if nothing, pack it back up -- you have your receipt and they will probably take it and give you a refund or store credit. (I do this all the time lol) NOw, if this happens, I am possibly out of my depth -- I would still want to think software is the problem -- probably a wireless driver is messed up or its a windows issue. You can PM me at any point for help with any of these steps, or if you try everything and are still having a problem, I can try to help you with drivers. Good luck!

 

[Amy]

themarquis - thanks for your suggestions! I think I will try that Mozilla firefox browser; I've heard about it, and DH says he has it on his work computer but he's just never used it. It's worth a shot anyway; that'll be my weekend project. I just hope we don't have any more problems! Thanks for all your help!

 

[Amity 3]

Amy, hit this link and tell me your results:

http://speedtest.pk.gallatinriver.net/